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The Department of Agriculture (DA) is ramping up the expansion of the “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!” program across the National Capital Region, deepening the Marcos administration’s push to make affordable rice widely accessible, especially to vulnerable sectors. A flagship food program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the project offers quality rice at P20 per kilo, […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered the creation of a technical working group (TWG) on rice importation, signaling a more data-driven and strategically managed approach to balancing supply, prices, and farmer protection as the country heads into another critical cycle for its staple grain. The move comes as the Department of Agriculture (DA) races […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is rolling out a new village-based feed ecosystem aimed at boosting corn and livestock production, cutting feed costs, and strengthening rural incomes through cooperative-led agribusiness. In a memorandum circular No. 2, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. approved the implementation of the Village-Type Feed Complete Chain Project (VFCCP), a vertically […]
The Philippines closed 2025 with a significantly narrower agricultural trade deficit in December, as a surge in farm exports—led by tropical fruits—combined with softer imports to ease pressure on the country’s external accounts. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. welcomed the improvement, framing it as early proof that the Department of Agriculture’s export diversification strategy […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) expanded “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na!”, the flagship food security program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in Pampanga as the government moves to keep rice affordable while strengthening farm-to-market infrastructure. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. led the rollout alongside Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, former President and now Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. brought the Department of Agriculture’s farm-to-market push to the ground, leading the launch of two major projects in Victoria, Oriental Mindoro —initiatives designed to lift farm incomes, cut post-harvest losses, and strengthen food security in one of the country’s key food-producing provinces. At the center is the Oriental Mindoro […]
Aklan takes a major step toward modern agriculture as the Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), officially launched the construction of smart greenhouse facilities under the Value Chain Enhancement of High-Value Crops through Smart Agriculture (VEHCSA) Project during a groundbreaking ceremony at the Aklan Agri-Aqua Demo Farm and […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. urged rice farmers in areas served by rice processing systems (RPS) to focus on planting only one to two rice varieties, a move aimed at maximizing operational efficiency. The call comes in response to feedback from local farmers’ cooperatives operating RPS facilities, which emphasized the need to streamline production […]
Food poverty in the Philippines fell sharply in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to the latest OCTA Research Tugon ng Masa (TNM) Survey, signaling easing pressure on households as food access improves and prices stabilize amid government interventions. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. welcomed the survey results, noting that they reflect the impact […]
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. inspected the recently completed P94.8 million rice processing facility of the Hamtic Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Antique, underscoring the government’s push to modernize agriculture and raise farmer incomes in one of the Visayas’ key rice-producing provinces. The Rice Processing System (RPS), located in Barangay Poblacion […]